Description: Gain new insight into the lived experience of pregnant adolescents residing in a group home environment. Learn how perceived support influences mothering behaviors and parenting style. Nurse leaders may use study findings to improve the quality of care provided to this highly vulnerable population.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to describe self-reported experiences of pregnant adolescents living in a group home setting, both during pregnancy and after becoming new mothers.
Background/Significance: Adolescent pregnancy and parenthood have been identified as national public health problems and topics of intense debate in the United States because it impacts both maternal and child health; as well as, the socioeconomic well-being of the nation. While many types of parenting programs are available to the adolescent mother, no one approach has emerged as most effective in decreasing subsequent pregnancies, while improving mother and child health. The aim of this study was to identify new knowledge helpful in establishing parenting programs that promote high quality outcomes for adolescent mothers and their children.
Methods: This descriptive, qualitative research used Husserl’s Phenomenology as a framework to help explore what it means to be a pregnant adolescent living in a group home. Data were collected from volunteers who had lived in two group homes in a suburban setting in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. In-depth, one-on-one interviews using a semi-structured guide were completed with eight participants. Giorgi’s steps for analysis of the verbatim transcripts were used to develop essences and the essential structure about the phenomenon under study. Giorgi’s method of data analysis was used because it aligns with Husserl’s Phenomenology, and assists in extracting, organizing and describing a phenomenological narrative dataset.
Results: Range of participants’ ages: 13-17 years. Time lived in the group home was six months to two years. Three themes emerged, each with subthemes, describing participants’ experiences, namely: 1) The environment with its rules and structure was experienced as either supportive or not in day-to-day living; 2) Balancing adolescent expectations and needs impacted pregnancy and parenting; and 3) Defining motherhood focused on the basics and was influenced by the participants’ own mothering. Study findings were compared and contrasted with well-known nursing, individual development, parenting theories and relevant research findings. Theories explored to illuminate study findings were: Erikson’s Developmental Theory, Mercer’s Maternal Role Attainment Theory (Becoming A Mother), and Meleis’ Transition Theory.
Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Nurses who care for adolescents throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period are uniquely positioned to influence their development as mothers. Research is needed to identify best practices used by care providers in group homes, and other community settings, that advance high quality outcomes among adolescent mothers.
See more of: Oral Paper & Posters